Richmond Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Personal Injury
Our Richmond drunk driving accident lawyers are here to help you move forward.
Don’t wait. Contact the dependable and hardworking legal team at Merrick Brock, PLLC now for a free consultation. We have your back and will fight for your rights.
A drunk driver crashes into you. No warning. No time to react. And just like that, everything changes. Now you’re facing hospital bills, missed work, and pain you didn’t ask for.
It’s overwhelming, and it’s not something you should have to face alone. Fortunately, Virginia law gives DUI victims the right to pursue justice through civil claims.
With the help of an experienced DUI Attorney Richmond, you can begin taking control of your recovery. We’re here to help you take the next steps.
At Merrick Brock, PLLC, we represent Virginia residents whose lives have been turned upside down by drunk drivers. As a trusted Richmond drunk driving accident law firm, Merrick Brock, PLLC is committed to holding impaired drivers accountable and helping your story be heard.
We also now have an office in Lynchburg, Virginia!
Key Takeaways — DUI Accident Cases in Richmond
- Drivers under the influence cause many serious accidents; victims may recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain & suffering, and more.
- Merrick Brock litigates DUI collision cases and works to hold negligent drivers fully accountable even when insurance companies push for low settlements.
- Important evidence includes police & crash reports, toxicology results, witness statements, and vehicle damage/scene photos.
- Virginia’s contributory negligence law is strict: any fault by the injured party may bar recovery, so strong legal guidance is essential.
- Act early: the sooner you engage experienced counsel, the better your chance to preserve evidence and file a timely claim.
What Virginia Law Says About Drunk Driving
Virginia’s primary drunk driving law makes it unlawful for any person to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more. This statute also covers mopeds on public highways.
For drivers under 21, anyone who operates a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.02% or more is in violation of Virginia’s drunk driving laws.
Virginia has additional drunk driving rules for commercial vehicle operators, who can face penalties for driving a commercial vehicle with a BAC as low as 0.04%.
How to Prove a Drunk Driving Claim in Richmond?
To hold a drunk driver civilly liable for your injuries, you must prove negligence. This involves establishing four key elements:
- Duty of care. Every driver has a legal duty to operate their vehicle responsibly and avoid endangering others.
- Breach of duty. Driving under the influence is a breach of that duty. Alcohol impairs judgment, slows reaction time, and affects coordination, increasing the risk of crashes that put everyone on the road in danger.
- Causation. You must show that the drunk driver’s actions directly caused your injuries.
- Damages. Lastly, you must demonstrate that you suffered harm due to the crash.
Evidence that can help prove these elements includes how the defendant pled to a DUI charge, BAC test results, field sobriety tests officer body cam taken during the traffic stop, witness testimony, and expert opinions. At Merrick Brock, PLLC, we know how to gather and present this evidence to help strengthen your claim.
What Evidence Is Used to Prove a DUI Accident Claim in Richmond?
Proving a drunk driving accident claim requires evidence to show that the other driver was impaired and that their negligence caused your injuries. This evidence can include:
- Field sobriety tests performed at the scene,
- Breathalyzer or blood tests showing the driver’s BAC,
- Eyewitness statements,
- Surveillance video such as officer body worn cameras or dash cam footage, and
- Expert testimony.
The more thorough the evidence, the stronger your case. A Richmond drunk driving accident attorney can step in early to help secure this evidence before it’s lost.
Can You Sue VCU After a Drunk Driving Accident Near Campus?
In most cases, you cannot directly sue Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) if you were hit by a drunk driver on or near campus. That’s because the drunk driver is typically the responsible party, not the university.
However, there are limited situations where a claim involving VCU could be possible, depending on the facts of the case.
For example, liability may be explored if there is evidence that a third party connected to the incident (such as a property owner, event organizer, or licensed vendor) contributed to the circumstances that led to the crash.
In general, though, drunk driving accidents near VCU are handled as claims against:
- The intoxicated driver,
- Their insurance company, or
- Potentially any third-party dram shop or bar that overserved alcohol (in rare cases under Virginia law)
Because liability laws in Virginia are strict and fact-specific, it’s important to have an attorney review the details of any crash that occurs in or around the VCU campus area.
How Long Do I Have to Bring a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Richmond, Virginia?
Drunk driving accident claims fall under the broader category of personal injury law in Virginia. That means victims have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit seeking compensation.
If you miss this deadline, known as the statute of limitations, you may lose your right to recover damages.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Richmond Drunk Driving Accident?
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to a wide range of compensation.
These damages are meant to cover the financial costs and the personal toll the crash has taken on your life. Below are some of the most common types of damages available in a civil drunk driving case:
- Medical expenses,
- Lost income,
- Loss of future earning capacity,
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress, and
- Loss of consortium or companionship.
Virginia law also allows for punitive damages in drunk driving injury cases. An injured victim may be awarded these damages if the evidence proves that the defendant (the drunk driver) acted with malice toward the plaintiff (the victim) or that the defendant’s actions were “so willful or wanton as to show a conscious disregard for the rights of others.”
The latter applies when:
- The driver had a BAC of 0.15% or higher;
- They knew or should have known they were impaired; and
- Their intoxication was a proximate cause of injury or death.
Punitive damages are designed to punish and deter dangerous conduct. If your case qualifies, we will fight for this category of damages to be fully considered.
How Can a Richmond Car Accident Lawyer for DUI Victims Help Me?
An experienced DUI victim lawyer can handle every aspect of your case while you focus on recovery. We help by dedicating ourselves to the following:
- Communicating with the drunk driver’s insurance company,
- Preserving critical evidence,
- Identifying all possible sources of liability,
- Calculating the full value of your damages,
- Building a strong case, and
- Preparing your case for trial.
Having the right legal team behind you can make the difference between a rushed settlement and a result that truly reflects what you’ve lost.
Need Help After a Drunk Driving Accident? Contact Our Richmond Attorney Today
A drunk driver made a reckless decision. You’re the one living with the consequences. At Merrick Brock, PLLC, our founding attorneys spent over 25 years defending insurance companies and large corporations.
That experience taught us how the other side builds defenses and evaluates claims. Now, we use that knowledge to our advantage.
We know what’s at stake in a DUI injury case. We’re here to guide you through it with clarity, strategy, and relentless focus.
If you’ve been hit by a drunk driver, a lawyer who understands what you’re going through can make all the difference. Contact Merrick Brock today to speak with an experienced Richmond drunk driving accident lawyer. The case evaluation is free, and our commitment to you is real.
We also serve the Arlington, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach areas!